Laboratory Service Ceiling Mounting with Adjustable Spacer Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for attaching media ceilings in laboratories require precise preparation and alignment of fastening points, which is challenging due to manual hole drilling in the building ceiling, leading to potential misalignment and displacement of the support structure during assembly.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable compensating device with a spherical nut arrangement and clamping jaws is introduced between the spacers and the building ceiling, allowing for horizontal and vertical adjustments to compensate for tolerances and misalignments, ensuring precise positioning of the spacers relative to the retaining anchors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual hole drilling is used for retaining anchors in the building ceiling, then installation flexibility is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is designed with movable spacers that can be adjusted in position relative to the retaining anchors. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the spacers to be repositioned horizontally to compensate for misalignments caused by manual drilling, while still achieving secure fastening of the media ceiling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If precise preparation is required for fastening points, then positioning accuracy is improved, but installation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spacers are pre-assembled on the support structure with defined attachment points before installation. During installation, these pre-positioned spacers can be horizontally adjusted to match the actual positions of the retaining anchors, eliminating the need for precise pre-preparation of fastening points while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If the support structure is assembled on the floor before installation, then assembly precision is improved, but adaptability to ceiling conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly precisionVSAvoidadaptability to ceiling conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The spacers are designed with horizontal adjustability that allows them to be repositioned after the support structure is assembled on the floor. This dynamic feature enables the pre-assembled structure to adapt to variations in ceiling conditions and retaining anchor positions, combining the benefits of pre-assembly precision with post-installation adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP1857604B1Service ceiling for laboratories, and method of installing such a ceilling
Publication Date: 2009.11.25 WOBATECH
  • EP1857604B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1857604B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1857604B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The ceiling has a carrier construction (10) fastened to an attachment point of a ceiling (14) of a research laboratory e.g. chemical laboratory, by an assigned distance piece (11). A compensating arrangement (12) is provided between the attachment point and the distance piece. The arrangement enables the adjustment of the distance piece relative to the attachment point in a horizontal plane. The distance piece has a retaining anchor (13) fastened to the ceiling. An independent claim is also included for a method for mounting a service ceiling.